Monday, 24 September 2012

Worshippers Part 2: A Day of Peace and Unity in Isleworth

When I contacted the Hussaini Islamic Mission in early
September, requesting permission to attend one of their Friday sessions of
sermon and prayer, the mosque's secretary, Javed, not only welcomed me to attend
but also offered to arrange for someone to sit with me to translate the Urdu service.

Within a few days of this gracious offer, I received
an invitation to the centre to celebrate the UN’s International Day of Peace, scheduled to include words from the leaders of other faiths in the Isleworth area, the lighting of candles for peace in the world and an art exhibition by the mission's children.

Entering a mosque just a few days after the grotesque “Innocence” video was viewed around the world was no small
step, particularly for a quiet blond American woman. But that hesitation was quickly dissipated by
a warm welcome and gift of a headscarf.
For the next couple of hours, I listened to a succession of messages from leaders
of the Muslim faith, a rabbi, a northern Irish Anglican minister, a woman
representing the Buddhist community, a Sikh granthi, as well as Isleworth’s Conservative
Member of Parliament, Mary Macleod.

Each talked about the values of peace
and unity that we share as a community, which begins with inner peace through faith, and which then flows out into the wider community and world. For me, one of the most memorable aspirations
posed was the dual notion that we may agree to disagree on matters of belief
and doctrine, but that we can nonetheless live and work together in harmony. And that our common values can be an example
to the wider world and the next generation, despite ethnic and religious conflagrations elsewhere.